Roadside flower vendors flourish ahead of Easter Sunday

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Colorful and fragrant arrays of Easter flowers at roadside pop-up stands were a common site on Staten Island Saturday, as drivers pulled over for on-the-fly shopping for the Sunday holiday.

"It's fast, it's easy and it's 10 minutes from home," said customer Wayne Cipriano, who picked Easter plants for the ladies in his life -- mother, sister, sister-in-law and niece -- from a pop-up stand in Travis, next to the Mid-Island Little League Field.

Vinnie (no last name, please), who sets up his stand there for Christmas, Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, too, said business was brisk.

"Everyone has come out of the woodwork, especially after the winter we just had," said Vinnie, who had already sold more than half of the 50 Easter baskets he had on display. "It's become a very popular holiday. There's a lot of competition."

Indeed, from Castleton Corners to Concord to Richmond, flower stands boasting tulips, daffodils, crocus, azalea and Easter lilies were enjoying a steady stream of customers under sunny skies and a soft breeze.

On the sidewalk outside Get-and-Go Bagels in Concord, where traditional Easter plants ranged from $5.99 to $10, Khalid Mehmued said, "It's perfect timing, with the weather."

"Business is good today, but will be even better tomorrow when people will be trying to get the last flowers available," he added.

At the 40-year-old holiday pop-up on Victory Boulevard and Slosson Avenue in Castleton Corners, tulips ranged from $8 for a plant to $20 for a basket with Easter chick decorations.

"Later today and all day tomorrow will be really busy," said Phil Ruggiero, who was running the stand at midday. "People are happy it's spring, happy to finally be out after the bad winter."

At Amboy Road and Clarke Avenue in Richmond, Bob Mauro said his flowers are "all field grown, so when you plant them in the ground they're going to do better."

"How well you do is always contingent on the weather," added Mauro, whose wares included "bunny mums" for $12. "Tomorrow is really the day, because everybody waits to buy on their way to dinner with the relatives."

"It's a sign of spring," Rigney said. "The weather is good; it was such a long winter."

Troop 125 Boy Scouts Robert Bailey and James Tonrey sat on the stone wall of the Church of St. Andrew Cemetery, Richmond, pots of flowers at their feet, twirling pinwheels. They called attention to the troop's Easter plants for sale across the street, outside Hemsley Hall, ranging in price from $10 to $18.

Vinnie, who was selling small plants for as little as $5 at his pop-up in Travis, said even last-minute shoppers are discerning when it comes to price.

"I really try to keep things reasonable," he said. "I know how hard it is to earn a buck."